Daily Number

$45.4 million

January 19, 2018

Spending by the so-called Big Six committees totaled 13.3 million in 2017, but the amount was dwarfed by independent special-interest spending, according to an analysis by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

Independent groups spent $45.4 million on last year's election, more than triple the sum spent by the two state parties and four legislative leadership committees. The governor's seat and all 120 legislative seats were up for re-election.

"Party committees are now regularly outgunned by independent groups during New Jersey's statewide elections," said Jeff Brindle, ELEC's executive director.

In 2007, Big Six committees spent 142 times more than independent groups in the election. By 2017, independent committees spent more than three times the Big Six total. Of the total amount spent by the two groups, the 23 percent share by the Big Six was its lowest ever.